Facebook Nude Photo Extortion: Name That Sentence

Here are the facts of the case, according to the Birmingham News.  Read them, name what you consider an appropriate sentence, then see the actual sentence after the jump.

Court records show Vance gained control of his victims' Yahoo, Hotmail, Facebook and MySpace accounts using several means. In interviews with the FBI, Vance said he would contact his victims through instant messaging and pretend to be a friend or a relative. He convinced some victims to give him their login and password information, saying he was locked out of his own Facebook, MySpace or e-mail account.

He also pretended to be a secret admirer and got his victims to answer intimate questions about their bodies and sexual experiences by promising to reveal his identity after they provided the answers. He then threatened to publicize the information if the victim didn't provide password information.

In more complicated instances, Vance hacked into his victims' e-mail accounts using information from public Facebook pages, which included information such as birth dates, the names of the victims' schools and their hometowns. Password protection on the e-mail accounts would use standard questions such as ZIP code, date of birth or school mascot. Once Vance had control of an e-mail account, he would go to Facebook, pretend he forgot the password and have Facebook send a link to the victims' compromised e-mail account. Vance changed the passwords, locking the victims out of their accounts.

Vance, court records show, contacted more than 50 girls and young women in Alabama, Pennsylvania and Missouri from 2006 to 2008.  Vance threatened to expose embarrassing details he learned if he didn't get nude photos. He also promised some victims he would relinquish control of the accounts in exchange for nude photos. Most did not meet his demands, but at least two minors and one adult did.

Vance cooperated with FBI agents and identified victims they did not know about. He also showed agents how he hacked his victims' accounts. The FBI shared that information with the social networking sites and e-mail services. The FBI has also conducted Internet-safety training based on what they learned from Vance, according to court records.

18 years.  Feel free to comment about whether the punishment fits the offense.

Comments

[Calvin Massey]

I was thinking ten years. But I have no quarrel with 18.

[Ted Watkins]

18 years? hell no. He deserves life. 2 minors, only God knows how many other were minors. This truly indicates he's a pedophile as well. As far as I'm concerned, more needs to be done with him. Put him on a sex offender list and let the local communities know and make him register.

[Joseph]

can anyone point me to the court records?

[John]

For Christ's sake, put this into perspective. How long in jail to bank robbers get? 5 to 10? Has this guy pulled a gun on anyone? And all you folks beating your chests about this, have you ever spent a day in jail?

Look at the guy. He's a skinny nerd. One year for him would be like 20 for anyone else. I think he deserves some time in the slammer, simply because he was extorting people and that makes him an asshole, but 18 years?

Ted Watkins, there is a difference between being a child and being under the age of 18. I lost my virginity shortly before my 15th birthday, a circumstance about which I was exceptionally happy, and pretty much every boy my age at the time was busting to do the same. I don't have any sisters, and have never watched a girl growing up, so I can't comment on whether the same is true for girls, but if they are (as often claimed) two years ahead of boys developmentally in the teenage years, it stands to reason that they would.

16 or 17 is a very normal age for most adolescents to lose their virginity - a 30-year-old is pretty sad if he's trying to talk his way into such pants, but there's a vast gulf between sex with young adults and pedophilia, which is sick and disgusting. Don't debase the latter term by overusing it.

I should clarify this - I am only referring to 16 and 17-year-olds as young adults. This is the law in Australia, and while I can't understand for a moment how any adult could stand talking to a teen long enough to seduce them, there are immature and moronic 18-year-olds and level-headed, sensible 17-year-olds. The age limit is entirely arbitrary.

I find it fascinating that America entrusts 15-year-olds with the keys to cars, and the maturity and responsibility to drive them in public, but not to do what they like with their own bodies in private. A car can wreak untold suffering on others; consensual, safe sex can't. Having said that, I think 15 is too young to drive. I think the decision as to readiness for sex is entirely up to the individual.

The report does not say how young the minors were, and given this story comes from a mainstream newspaper, the term "minor" is likely used to create as much sensation as possible. If these were girls just short of their 18th birthday, the "minor" angle is a storm in a teacup, notwithstanding the extortion, which I've already discussed (is the extortion less heinous if an impressionable 19-year-old is the victim?). If they were 14, this should be reported, because the guy then deserves flaying.

Finally, "only God knows how many other were minors" is nonsense. The FBI do know who his victims are. We don't. If this guy has copped a long sentence because he actually is a pedophile, well and good, but you do yourself and child victims (and I was one) no favours by leaping to the pedo conclusion in the absence of the facts.

[Vimax]

Having said that, I anticipate 15 is too adolescent to drive. I anticipate the accommodation as to address for sex is absolutely up to the individual.

[lacoste shoes 2010]

The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for circumstances they want , and if they cannot find them .they make them.Do you understand?

[gucci shoes]

Maybe We cannot change the inevitable. But the only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. Did you agree with me? Posed By gucci shoes

[Jordan 5]

I love you blog very much.And thank you .I hope you have a happy life .
Best wish to you,Let my blessing, is a pure light tea, a light faint scent, brushed the work you tired and dusty, bring you - my friend! Every day in a good mood!

[cheap Jordans]

Attitude, to me, is a lot more imperative than what other individuals believe. The lengthier I stay, the much more I recognize the effect of perspective on lifestyle. What about you?

[cheap air jordans]

I want to bring out the secrets of nature and apply them for the happiness of man . I don't know of any better service to offer for the short time we are in the world .

[cheap air jordans]

I want to bring out the secrets of nature and apply them for the happiness of man . I don't know of any better service to offer for the short time we are in the world .